CHAPTER THIRTY

Claire's POV

I clung to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid warmth, his unwavering presence. How did he always know just what to say, just what I needed to hear?

"Thank you," I murmured, pressing a kiss to his chest. "For being here. For...everything."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be." He squeezed me tight, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. "I love you, Claire. So much."

"I love you, too." The words came easily, naturally. A simple truth that anchored me, even in the midst of this chaos.

We stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other. Breathing each other in. And slowly, gradually, I felt the knot of tension in my chest begin to ease.

Lucas was right. We would get through this. Together. Just like we always had.

As if on cue, Brian came barreling back into the room, his face scrubbed pink and shining. "Pancakes now? I'm starving!"

Lucas and I broke apart with a laugh, the heaviness of the moment dissipating like mist in the sun.

"Pancakes now," Lucas confi